Since its founding in 2009, The Assistance Fund (TAF), an independent charitable patient assistance organization, has helped patients and families within the rare disease and chronic illness sphere with financial assistance. The assistance covers out-of-pocket medical costs, such as deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and therapeutic options. Currently, TAF has over 70 different disease programs, including those for amyloidosis, prostate cancer, hypophosphatasia, and lupus. According to Cold Agglutinin Disease News, TAF also began a new program in February 2022 to provide assistance to those with cold agglutinin disease (CAD). 

Unfortunately, healthcare costs can be an immense burden on families or patients within the rare disease sphere. Not only does it often take years to receive a diagnosis, managing a rare disease often requires specialist care, numerous healthcare visits each year, and sometimes difficult-to-access treatments. Cold Agglutinin Disease News even cites an NIH report which found that medical costs associated with rare disease treatment and management are often 3-5x higher than those outside of the rare disease sphere. Thus, TAF hopes to take away this burden and allow people to get access to necessary care. 

TAF is currently enrolling patients into the CAD Financial Assistance Program. The program will help cover financial costs associated with travel, insurance premiums, therapy administration costs, and prescription drug assistance. To see a list of covered drugs and treatments, or to learn how to apply, click here. 

Outside of taking a look at the CAD Financial Assistance Program webpage, you may also call 833-519-0408 for more information. 

About Cold Agglutinin Disease (CAD)

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks red blood cells. Normally, red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. In patients with cold agglutinin disease, cold agglutinins (a type of antibody) mistakenly attack red blood cells when patients are exposed to cold temperatures, ranging from 32-50 degrees Fahrenheit. As the antibodies cause the blood cells to clump together, it also prompts red blood cell destruction. CAD may be primary, meaning it occurs spontaneously, or secondary, which means it results from another condition. For example, mycoplasma pneumonia may cause secondary CAD. CAD is also considered a subtype of atypical hemolytic anemia. 

An estimated 1 in every 80,000-300,000 people has cold agglutinin disease. It is more common in older individuals (aged 60+), and more common in females than males. Symptoms include:

• Hemolytic anemia (red blood cell destruction)
• Pallor (pale skin)
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes) 
• Dark urine
• Chest, back, or leg pain
• Heart problems (enlarged heart, heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, heart murmur, heart failure)
• Raynaud’s phenomenon 
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)